The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-06-09
THE TRAIN ROBBERY.
Continuation Of the Preliminary
Hearing.
The Luling Crowd on Tr1al-An
Informer on the Stand.
from Thursdays Daily

In United States Commissioner Rug
giles court yesterday, the cases Of
the government against the Crafts
and Usserys were called auo
the examination commenced. At the
beginning of the case an agreement was
made between the attorneys that all the
evidence taken in the trial of Joe Barbour
so far as the same relates to the deten.
ton of the mai, the robbery or attempted
robbery wa; to be taken as true. The as
sistant district attorney opened the pro-
ceedings by entering mol pros. as to
Charles Buckley, prisoner, and placing
him on the stand as a witness 1t had
been whispered around for several
days that one of the prisoners would turn
states evidence, and the introduction OF
this man, of course, put the crowd in at
tendance on the tip-toe of expectation
Buckley testified that his home is il
San Antonio; that he knew the defend
ants, and had been with them in the last
days of April and first of May; he saw
them at Jim Ussery's house, near
the town of Luling. He was
there with John Hall, a man named John
son and one named Cops; he and these
parties went from Ussery's house to Lu.
ling, where they met John and Chud
Craft; while there also met Alb Ussery
who said he had just returned from Cali
formal witness and Hall went to Luling
together from San Antonio; they
were at Ussery's on the goth OF
April; on the 1st of May went
into town; had had conversations before
this at Ussery's house relative to robbing
a tram; Jim Ussery knew what 1t was
proposed to do; the plan at first was to
rob train on the Sunset road at Three
Mile tank, near Luling, but this was
given up on account of there being sc
many trains on the road as to make the
undertaking too hazardous. The next
thing proposed was to rob the bank in
Luling, and this was very carefully con
sidered. In the elaboration of the plan
several visits were made to town and care
full view of the situation was made anC
studied. The arrangements were so nearly
perfected, that the several parties, thu
Ussery's, the Crafts, Hall, Johns on
Cops, man named Willburn
and the witness, each was given part in
the work to do; Hare johnson and thu
witness were to go into the bank, while
the others were to guard the approaches
the bank was not robbed, because it wa
learned that the bulk of the money haC
been. shipped, off and there wa
not enough on hand to war
rant the attempt; after this schem
was given up, it was suggested that tn
crowd go up about Round Rock and rob
train there; this scheme was also consld
cred at Jim Ussery's house and in Lullng
when the gang were in town, they woul'
knock around the bar-rooms and holt
conferences in the cellar of a vacan
house.
The witness detailed with great minute
ness the movements of himself and hi
companions while concocting the robbery
The plan to be pursued was to SURROUND
the train at some stopping place, rob tn
express car and passengers, but not dis
turb the mail; Hall took the lead in tn
deliberations and seemed to be the captain
the witness said he had been a specia
officer in the employ of Sheriff Lewis, o
San Antonio, and had become acquainted
with Deputy Marshal Bell, to whom h
unfolded the plot, and who engaged hin
to stand ia with the crowd, and at thu
right time give the snap away; the wit
ness after arrangements had been per
fected for all parties to NEE
at Usserys on the 18th of May, went bacl
to San Antonio, where he was taken sick
he told Hall to go ahead with the boy
and do what was to be done; later on n
saw an account of the robbery, and sup
posed it had been done by this gang &C
cording to their arrangement; the agree
ment was made about the 4 h of May
while witness was in Luling he pawned
Winchester rifle at the bank and &c
$3.50 for it; Hare was with him, the pur
pose of going to the bank being to ia
maliarize himself with it; witness sal
that since his arrest he has been threat
ened that his life would be taken If h
"peached" on his pals; that if one did no
kill him another would; these threats wer
made in the Austin Jail by Barbou
and John and Chud Craft; Will
witness was a prisoner in tn
iail he was attacked and beaten; a ma
called "the Doc" and another, called 9TH
Col" Jumped on and beat him, and som
others took hand also; in the fracas h
coat was cut but by whom he could nc
say; ths Crafts and Usserys were in tn
ell during the time, but he could not sa
whether they had hand IN the fight; he ws
getting the worst of the deal when q
Roy came to the rescue and showed
out of the cell, but the man with whom
was fighting The jailer finally came al
separated them.
Commissioner Ruggles upon hearin
this testimony, and seeing the ugly gas
in the witnesses coat, delivered shar
lecture to the United States Marshals on Il
protection of their prisoners, and CON
mented strongly on the conduct of tt
officers in charge of the jail for not bette
protecting prisoners. The lncldoI
caused quite diversion from the nor
otony of the witness slow dragging stor
Colonel Walton objected to the evident
as to the Jail fight, and it was sustalne
In the cross examination, Col. Walto
drew out from Buckley the admission th
he had been in the penitentiary tWlc
having been sent once from Menal
county for five years and pardoned, an
once from Bosque county for eight year
witness thought he had received a pardc
in this case, but admitted to having escape
and been out some time; Col. Goree, hoy
ever, testified that no pardon had ISSUE
to him on the second case, and he ht
served the full term, less Communication II
good behavior. Under the process {
cross-examination the witness went ov
the whole ground of the conspira'
again, but did not vary mate
go ,a,,,